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Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey waves the French flag to signify the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

There will be no Le Mans, F1 date clash under Chase Carey's new watch

Liberty Media appears keen to avoid date conflicts with the French endurance classic

June 19, 2017

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The promoters of both Formula 1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans appear to be entering a new era of collaboration.

During the weekend, new F1 CEO Chase Carey was the honorary official starter of the fabled 24 hour race in France. But just a year ago, the now ousted F1 leading official Bernie Ecclestone was accused of having deliberately engineered a date clash between Le Mans and the F1 race in Baku.

"We are demonstrating the new relationship between the (Le Mans organiser) ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) and Formula 1," said ACO chief Pierre Fillon. "With Chase Carey at the top of F1, the time has come to work together on a motorsport calendar that allows fans to enjoy both Formula One and the races of the World Endurance Championship," he added.

F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg won Le Mans in 2015, but was unable to follow up his triumph a year later due to the Baku clash. And now, the German is a full-works Renault driver.

"At the moment, I don't think I am missing participating in Le Mans," he told Firstpost. "I am focused on the Renault project and I would like to give this my best shot in the next few years. But for the future, who knows?"